Brush mat or the like



W. A. LOMBARDI BRUSH MAT OR THE LIKE Sept. 10, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 22, 1950 WILL/AMA LUMBfl/E'D/ I (Ittomegs.

p 10, 1957 v w. A. LOMBARD! 2,805,437

BRUSH MAT OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1950 I SnoentorWALL/AM A. LGMEARD/ attorney nited States Patent e A 2,805,437 5C6Patented Sept. 10, 1957 BRUSH MAT OR THE LIKE William A. Lombardi,Derby, Conn. Application September 22, 1950, Serial No. 136,210 22Ciairns. (Ci. 15-171) My invention relates to brushes and in particularto supporting means for brushes composed of one or more strip-type brushelements. The invention is in the nature or an improvement overconstructions shown in my copending patent applications Serial No.750,928, filed May 28, 1947, now Patent No. 2,651,798, granted September15, 1953; Serial No. 141,420, filed January 31, 1950, now Patent No.2,736,916, granted March 6, 1956; and Serial No. 165,929, now Patent-No. 2,753,586, granted July 10, 1956, filed June 3, 1950.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved construction ofthe character indicated.

It is another object to provide improved clamping means for abrush-supporting structure of the character indicated.

It is a further object to provide an improved supporting means forabrush strip.

It is also an object to provide a single unitary brushstrip supportingmeans which may integrally include all the means necessary forpermanently clamping the brush strip to the supporting means.

It is a specific object to provide a brush-mat assembly comprisingessentially only a plurality of spaced brush strips and simple retainersfor said strips, without requiring the mounting of said retainers upon aspecial base.

It is a general object to provide such a simple and cheapbrush-supporting structure that it will not be economically feasible toreuse the structure once the brush elements become worn, so that thesupporting structure may be assembled to brush elements so permanentlyas never to permit the loss or dislocation of a brush element.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention willbe pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a readingof the following specification in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. in said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only,preferred forms of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an assembled brush matincorporating features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of brush-supporting means used in the assembly of Fig.1, shown prior to assembly of the brush strips thereon;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the brush-supporting means of Fig. 2 with brushstrips inserted therein and prior to a clamping operation;-

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the parts shown after aclamping operation;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing. a modified construction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a further modifiedbrush-supporting means of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a still further modifiedbrush-supporting means of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the supporting means of Fig. 7, shown ina flexed condition during an assembly of abrush mat;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembled brush matutilizing supporting means of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is another fragmentary perspective view showing a modifiedversion of the arrangement of Fig. 9.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates the use of a basically simple,single supporting means to provide the sole anchorage for a plurality ofbrush strips, as in assembling a brush mat. By use of my improvedsupporting means there need be no further assembly of thebrushsupporting means to a base or other mounting means, for thesupporting means itself may securely hold the strips in assembledrelation, whatever the asymmetry of stress on the assembly during use.

To accomplish such rigid support each supporting means may be a channelmember with generally vertically projecting lugs providing for eachbrush strip at least two spaced points of anchorage to the supportingmeans. In one general form to be described, slotted brush-stripreceivingopenings are defined between upstanding lugs which may be pierced out ofthe base of the supporting means or which may be cut out of upstandingwalls of the channel member; in this form, the vertical projection ofthe slot area, at least in the vicinity of the slot months, is greaterthan the efiective cross-sectional area of brushstrip binders to beaccommodated therein, so that the brush strips may be slidably insertedin the supporting member for anchorage, as by a downward deformation ofthe lugs between slots. In another general form, the slotted openings,at least at the mouths thereof, are more constricted than thecorresponding cross-sectional area of the brush-strip binders, so thatdeformation of the holder is necessary to open the slots for receptionof brush binders; in this latter form, the brush-supporting means may bebrought back to its original shape, through inherent resiliency of thesupporting means or by securing means, in order that the brush stripsmay be 'crimped by the relatively constricted slots in which they arereceived.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, my invention is shown inapplication to a brush mat composed of a plurality of longitudinallyspaced generally transversely extending brush strips 11. Each strip 11may comprise bristles 12 wrapped around a core 13 and held in place bymeans of a binder member 14, which may be crimped as shown in Fig. 3 tohold the bristles around the core and the core in the binder.

According to a feature of the invention, a plurality of generallysimilar longitudinally extending brush-supporting means or holders 15-16may sufiice to hold a rigid mat assembly. Each of the holders 15-16 maybe of generally channel-shaped form, and the side walls of channels maybe utilized in the support and retention of the brush-strips. I haveshown one form of assembly for the end-supporting members 15 and anotherform for cen tral support, but it will be appreciated that theprinciples of each may be the same.

In the form shown, the basic channel member may be formed from a singlepiece of sheet material and comprises a base portion 17 which may beflat and longitudinally extensive. Side walls may be bent up from theopposite longitudinally extending sides of the base 17, and a pluralityof slots 18 may be punched out of one side wall to correspond withanother plurality of brushretaining slots 19 punched out of the otherside wall. The spaces between slots may then define retaining lugs 20-21for holding the brush strips. As in the case of forms described in myabove-mentioned copending application, the vertical projection of theslot openings 18-19 may exceed the efiective cross-sectional area of thebrush binder 14 to be received therein so that free sliding insertion ispermitted. However, at the mouths of the slots 18-19, the side portionsconverge, as at 22, to a spacing exceeding the maximum width of thebulbous base of the brush binder 14 but still in clearance relation withthe crimped upper portion thereof. Thus,

when assembling a plurality of brush strips 11 to a plu- I rality ofsupporting members 15-16, the end view may appear as in Fig. 3, with abrush binder 14 loosely accommodated in all slots. To complete theassembly, the lugs -21 need only be deformed, as by downwardly bendingthe same until'the constricting"projections 22 bind against or crimp thebulbouslower part of the binder 14. I p

When all lugs 20-21 of a particular brush holder have thus been crimpedagainst a plurality of brush strips 11, it will be appreciated that eachbrush strip is supported rigidly at transversely spaced points,'thuspositively preventing any twisting (in the horizontal plane) of thebrush. strips with respect to the brush holder. Use of a plurality ofsuch holders 15-16 may provide mutual reinforcement of this stronganchorage so that a complete assembly need rely upon no further means toimprove rigidi y. v

For appearance sake, and also to improve retention of the brush strip 11during assembly, each of the end brush holders 15 may further include anupwardly extending flange 23 of a continuous nature and in line, with ahorizontal projection of the slots 18-19. In the form shown, the flange23 forms one leg of an angle member, the other leg 24 of which issecured, as by spot welds 25, to the base 17 of the brush holder.

In certain applications, as when the brush mat is to serve for tee-ofipurposes for golfers, it is desirable that the brush strips 11 be placedrelatively closely together with the adjacent bristles of adjacent brushstrips 11 mingling at the outer fringes, as shown at 12' in Fig. 3.Also, it is desirable that the mat shall include means for anchoring thesame tothe ground to prevent dislodgment in the event of abuse.Anchoring means may be conveniently carried by the brush-holder members15-16, and in Fig. 2 I show a simple lug 26 pierced out of the base 17of the holder for this purpose. The lug 26 is freferably bent along anaxis 27 generally transversely of the golf-driving direction so as tooffer maximum resistance to dislodgment; generally, it is preferred thatthe brush strips 11 shall be aligned with the driving direction and,therefore, the bend axis 27 is preferably generally longitudinallyextending, as shown.

As indicated generally above, the retaining lugs may, if desired, bepierced out of the base of one of the holder members, and in Fig. 5 Ishow such an arrangement for the case of an end holder 28. The holder 28may again 'be of channel shape, with a base 29 and two upwardlyprojecting longitudinally extending side walls 30-31. As before,retaining slots 32 may be provided in one of the side walls (31) so thatthe side wall 31 may comprise essentially a longitudinally extendingplurality of deformable lugs 33. The other side wall (30) may belongitudinally continuous and serve as the end-retention side wall,corresponding to member 23 in the arrangement of Fig. 2. The secondlongitudinally extending plurality of retaining lugs 34 may be piercedor drifted out of the body of the base 29, so as to project upwardly andto present the same general appearance in the vertical projection as dothe lugs 33 on the side wall 31. Assembly of a construction as shown inFig. 5 with a plurality of brush strips 11 may be the same as thatalready described for the arrangement of Fig. 2, with the lugs 33-34merely being deformed in order to crimp the brush strips 11 firmly inplace, so that each brush strip may be anchored to the brush holder attwo transversely spaced points of support. a

In the arrangements thus far discussed, it will be appreciated that thebottoms of the slot openings may be in the sam general plane as theupper surface of the base of a particular brush holder. 'The base maythen provide extensive bottoming support for the brush binders. However,in an attempted economizing of material such lowered slots may weakenthe brush holder so as to make it unduly flexible longitudinally. Tooffset this 4 difficulty, which may arise from a use of relativelythinguage material, I show in Fig. 6 a suitably reinforced arrangement,again made from a single piece of sheet material.

In the brush holder of Fig. 6, the assembly is again channel-shaped,with a base portion 35 and upwardly extending side walls. The bottom ofthe slotted openings 36 in the side walls may still be in the generalplane of. the upper surface of the base 35, but the bottoms of slots 36are spaced from the bottoms of the side walls by an amount suflicient toproduce the desired reinforcing effect. Thus, the side walls may includea continuous, unslotted part 37 projecting downwardly from the'base 35,and another continuous part 38 projecting upwardly to join the base 35.If desired, the downwardly projecting part of the side walls and theupwardly projecting portion 38 may be intermediately adjacent andcrimped against each other for mutual reinforcement. Assembly of theholder of Fig. 6 to brush strips 11 may be effected in. the samelug-deforming manner as has been described.

In the forms thus far discussed, slotted openings have been initiallyformed with a greater efiective cross-sectional area than thebrush-strip-binder portion to be received therein, and the lugs havebeen deformed in order effectively to reduce this cross-sectional areato produce the crimping action. the invention, the slotted openings inthe channel side walls are initially formed with greater constrictionthan the corresponding part of the brush-strip binder, so that adeformation of the holder itself is necessary before the brush bindermay be accommodated at all; the brush binders are then secured in placeupon a substantial res toration of the holder to its original shape,thus crimping the brush binders at the location of the relativelyconstricted slot openings.

One arrangement of the second general form of the invention is shown inFigs. 7, 8,'and 9. Initially, the holder 40 may generally resemble oneof the holders (16) of the first-described arrangement, but, asindicated, the slot openings 41-42 in the opposite side walls are moreconstricted, at least at the' convergent-mouth portions 43, than are thecorresponding parts of the brush-strip binders 14; in order effectivelyto enlarge the constricted openings, the brush holder 40 itself 'must bedeformed. Such deformation may involve a deliberate twisting of aplurality of the brush-retaining lugs 44, as disclosed in theabove-men-' tioned patent application Serial No. 165,929, the twistingserving to open-up the constrictions in the slots so that afterinsertion of brush strips a twisting of lugs 44 back into their originalshape may serve to crimp the brush holders in place. However, in theform shown all the slots may be opened up by a longitudinal flexing orarchingof the brush holder 40, as illustrated in Fig.

8. Once arched, as by employment of a suitable jig, all brush strips maybe freely inserted, and upon release from the jig the inherentresiliency in the material of the brush holder may seek to restore thesameto its original shape with the lugs 44 crimped against the brushstrip 11. In certain cases, as when the material of the brush holder 40does not have the inherent resiliency to produce the desired crimpingaction, suitable securing means may be provided in the base 46 of theholder, as in the case of the securing hole 47 shown. In the event ofemployment of securing means, it may be preferable to mount the entireassembly upon a base or mounting member 48, and I have shown mountingscrews 49 to pass through holes 47 to hold spaced parts of each holdermember 40 to thebase member 48.

In Fig. 10,.I showstill further modification of brushholding means ofthe invention. Again, the holderemploys a channel comprising a base 50with integral side walls 51-52, but the side walls 51-52 are bentdownwardly. Slotted openings 53-54 are again formed in the sidewalls andthesegopeningsface upwardly, but

In the other general arrangement of base 50 is slotted at 55' betweencorresponding slots 5354 in the side walls.

If the holder of Fig. is to be used without initial deformation toaccommodate slidable insertion of the brush strips 11, then the verticalprojection of slot openings should allow sufiicient clearance for suchinsertion; however, the mouths of the slots preferably converge in theparticular manner discussed in connection with Fig. 2, so that the widthof slots 55 in the base 50 may be less than the maximum width of thebulbous lower part of the brush binders 14. The brushes may then besecured in place by a downward deformation of the central part of everyother (or of each) span 56 between adjacent slots 55 in the base 50, aswill be clear. If it is desired to enhance the securing action upon suchdeformation, mounting screws or other holding means may be insertedthrough holes 57 in the base 50 for anchoring an assembly to a mount ofthe kind shown at 48 in Fig. 9.

In an alternative employment of a structure as described in Fig. 10, theinitially formed area of the slotted openings 53-54 may be morerestricted, at least in the convergent mouths thereof, than is thecorresponding part of the brush binders 14 to be accommodated. The slotsmay then be opened upon a longitudinal flexing deformation of the kinddescribed in connection with Fig. 8 and, after the brush strips 11 havebeen inserted, the structure may be allowed resiliently to returntowards its original shape, thus crimping all brush binders in place.Again, if desired to improve the security of the assembly, mountingscrews or the like may be driven through securing openings 57 in thebase 50, as will be clear.

It will be seen that I have described an ingenious brush-supportingmeans which may materially simplify processes of making brush-matassemblies. My supporting means alone, when crimped against a pluralityof brush strips, may be sufficient in itself to provide a completelyrigid assembly so that no further mounting of the assembly to a board orthe like is necesary.

While I have described my invention in detail for the preferred formsshown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a brush mat comprising a plurality oftransversely spaced longitudinally extending channel members, eachchannel member including a base and two spaced upwardly extending walls,corresponding substantially upwardly extending parts of each of saidwalls having a plurality of upwardly open slots therein thereby definingupstanding retaining lugs between adjacent slots on each wall, and asingle generally transversely extending brush strip with a binderreceived in slots of both said walls in each of a plurality of saidchannel members, each of said slots conforming to the contour of saidbinder and converging at the mouth thereof to an extent to partiallyoverlap and thus to retain said binder.

2. An article according to claim 1, in which there is a plurality oflongitudinally spaced transversely extending brush strips with bindersreceived in slots of both said walls of both channel members, in whichthe corresponding ends of adjacent brush strips are in generallongitudinal alignment, and in which the channel member near said endincludes a end-retaining flange extending upwardly around saidcorresponding ends of said strips and in general longitudinal alignmentwith said ends.

3. An article according to claim 1, in which downwardly projectinganchoring means is integrally formed with the base of one of saidchannel members.

4. An article according to claim 3, in which said anchoring meanscomprises 2. lug pierced out of said base and bent along a generallylongitudinally extending fold.

r '5. As an article of manufacture, a brush-strip holder comprising achannel member with a base and two spaced substantially parallel walls,extending substantially perpendicular to said base, substantiallyparallel parts of each of said walls having a plurality of upwardly openslots therein, thereby defining retaining lugs between adjacent slots ineach wall, slot spacings on one wall corresponding with slot spacings onthe other of said walls, whereby a single brush-strip binder inserted incorresponding slots of both walls may be anchored to both walls and thusmay' be retained against twisting dislocation with respect to saidchannel, said channel member including at one. side thereof a flangedside member spaced outwardly from the body of said channel and with anupwardly extending continuous wall covering at least part of transversevertical projections of said slots. 6. A brush holder of sheet materialincluding a generally fiat longitudinally extending base with acontinuous longitudinally extending side wall bent integrally from oneside of said base, and a longitudinally extending plurality ofbrush-strip-retaining lugs struck up directly from and out of the bodyof said base and spaced from said wall, whereby said base may extendboth transverse sides of said lugs for more stable support of abrushstrip inserted between adjacent lugs.

7. A brush-strip holder comprising an elongated channel'with a base anddownwardly extending side walls on opposite sides of said base, saidside walls having formed therein upwardly open slots having convergingside walls.

at the upper open mouths thereof, said base being slotted continuouslybetween corresponding slots in said side walls, whereby brush-stripbinders may be inserted in corresponding slots of both side walls and inthe correspending slot of said base.

8. A holder according to claim 7, and securing means onsaid base foranchoring the same to a mounting member.

9. A holder according to claim 7, in which the vertical projection ofsaid slot openings is more restricted than the efifective cross-sectionof a brush-strip binder to be received therein.

10. As an article of manufacture, a brush mat, comprising a plurality oftransversely spaced longitudinally extending channel members, eachchannel member in cluding a base and two upwardly extending walls, eachof said walls having a plurality of upwardly facing laterally open slotstherein, thereby defining retaining lugs between adjacent slots on eachWall, a plurality of longitudinally spaced generally transverselyextending brush strips with binders received in slots of both said wallsof both said channel members, the vertical projection of correspondingslots in both said walls of one member in the direction of alignment ofsaid corresponding slots being more restricted than the effectivecross-sectional area of a brush strip binder to be accommodated in saidcorresponding slots, so that said channel members must be arched toaccommodate said brush-strip binders, a mounting member to accommodatesaid channel members, and means for securing upwardly arched portions ofsaid channel bases to said mounting member.

11. As an article of manufacture, a brush mat, comprising a plurality oftransversely spaced longitudinally extending channel members, eachchannel member including a base and two upwardly extending walls, eachofsaid walls having a plurality of upwardly facing laterally open' slotstherein, thereby defining retaining lugs between adjacent slots on eachwall, a plurality of longitudinally spaced generally transverselyextending brush strips with binders received in slots of both said wallsof each of said channel members, the vertical projection ofcorresponding slots in both said walls of one member in the direction ofalignment of said corresponding slots having an area in excess of thecross-sectional area of a brush binder, and the mouths of said slotsbeing more restricted than the maximum'widthof a brush' binder, so that,each brush binder may be slidingly .in-

serted through a plurality of corresponding slots in eachchannel memberand then anchored ing ofadjacent lugs.

12. As an article of manufacture, a brush-strip'holder comprising achannel member with a base and two spaced by downward bendsubstantiallyparallel walls extending substantially perpendicular to said base,substantially parallel parts of each of said walls having a plurality ofupwardly open slots therein, thereby defining retaining lugs betweenadjacent slots in each wall, said slots having mouths converging topartially close off the slot openings, slot spacings on one wallcorresponding with slot spacings on the other wall, whereby a singlebrush-strip binder inserted in corresponding slots ,of both walls may beanchored to both walls and thus may be retained against twistingdislocation with respect to said channel, the base of said channelmember including a portion ingeneral alignment with bottoms ofcorresponding slots in both said walls, whereby said portion may providereinforced relatively, extensive bottoming binder secured to saidholder.

, 13. As an article of manufacture, a brush-strip holder comprising achannel member with a base and two spaced substantially parallel wallsextending substantially perpendicular to said base, substantiallyparallel parts of each of said walls having a plurality of upwardly openslots therein, thereby defining retaining lugs between adjacent slots ineach wall, said slots having mouths converging to partially close 'ofi?the slot openings, slot spacings on one wall corresponding with slotspacings on the other wall, whereby a single brush-strip binder insertedin corresponding slots of both walls may be anchored to both walls andthus may be retained against twisting dislocation with respect to saidchannel, the bottoms of said slots being in the general plane of thebase of said channel member and said channel member being of flexiblematerial, the mouths of said slots converging towards each other so asto provide greater constriction at the mouths of the slots than is thecorresponding width of a brush-strip binder to be accommodated in saidslots, whereby upon flexing said channel member said slots may beeffectively opened up to accommodate insertion of brush-strip binders,and securing means on the base of said channel member, whereby said basemay be secured to a mounting member of less curvature than the curvaturenecessary to open said slots support for a brush-strip for insertion ofthe brush-strip binder so that upon secura ing the base of said channelsaid slots will be forcibly constricted to crimp brush binders securelyin place.

14. As an article of manufacture, a brush-strip holder comprising achannel member with a base and two spaced substantially parallel wallsextending substantially perpen dicular to said base, substantiallyparallel parts of each of said walls having a plurality of upwardly openslots therein, thereby defining retaining lugs between adjacent slots ineach wall, said slots having mouths converging to partially close offthe slot openings, slot spacings on one 'wall corresponding with slotspacings on the other wall, whereby a single brush-strip binder insertedin corresponding slots of both walls may be anchored to both walls andthus may be retained against twisting dislocation with respect to saidchannel, the bottoms of said slots being in the general plane of thebase of said channel member and said channel member being of flexiblematerial, the mouths of said slots converging towards each other so asto provide greater constriction at the mouths of the slots than is thecorresponding width of a brushstrip binder to be accommodated in saidslots, whereby upon flexing said channel member, said slots may beeffectively opened up to accommodate insertion of brushstrip binders, sothat upon releasing said channel member after insertion of brush-stripbinders the inherent resilliency of said channel member will effectively.closc said slots to anchor said binders.

15. As'an article of manufacture, a brush-strip holder substantiallyparallel walls extending substantially perpendicular to said base,substantially-parallel parts of each of said walls having a plurality ofupwardly open slots therein, thereby defining retaining lugs betweenadjacent slots in each wall, said slots having mouths converging topartially close off the slot openings, slot spacings on one wallcorresponding with slot spacings on the other wall, whereby a singlebrush-strip binder inserted in corresponding slots of both walls may beanchored to both walls and thus may be retained against twistingdislocation with respect to said channel, the bottoms'of said slotsbeing spaced upwardly from the bottoms of said side walls, whereby theunslotted lower parts of said side walls may offer reinforcement againstlongitudinal bending of said channel member, said base being elevatedfrom the bottom of said side walls and in general alignment with thebottoms of said slots, whereby said base may provide longitudinallyextensive bottoming support for brush-strip binders held incorresponding slots of both said side walls. l

16. As an article of manufacture, a brush-strip holder comprising achannel member including an elongated base with integral elongatedspaced walls on opposite sides thereof and including portions extendinggenerally perpendicular to said base, a perpendicular portion of one ofsaid walls having a plurality of upwardly open slots thereinQtherebydefining retaining lugs between adjacent slots on said one wall so thata plurality of longitudinally spaced generally transversely extendingbrush strips may be received in said slots with the ends of said brushstrips in limiting abutment with the other of said walls, alongitudinally extending plurality of further retaining lugs beingpierced out of the base of said channel in general conformity with thespacing and size of the lugs defined by the slots in said one wall,whereby said channel may provide two transversely spaced anchoringpoints for each brush strip and at the same time provide a limitingmeans for correspondingends of the brush strip.

17. As an article of manufacture, a brush mat, comprising a generallyfiat horizontal base member, a plurality of transversely spacedlongitudinally extending channel members mounted on the upper surface ofsaid base member, each channel member including two transversely spacedupstanding side walls, each of said walls having a plurality of upwardlyfacing laterally open slots therein,

thereby defining retaining lugs between adjacent slots on each wall,base means integrally connecting each lug of one wall with thecorresponding lugs of the other wall, a plurality of longitudinallyspaced generally transversely extending brush-strips with bindersreceived in slots of both said walls of each of said channel members,the vertical projection of corresponding slots inboth said walls of onemember in the direction of alignment of said corresponding slots havingan area in excess of the inserted cross-sectional area of a brushbinder, and the mouths of said slots being more restricted than themaximum width of a brush binder, so that each brush binder may beslidingly inserted through a plurality of corresponding slots in saidchannel members, and means securing said base means to said base member.

18. An article according to claim 17, in which said base meansintegrally connects the lower parts of said comprising a channel memberwith two elongated substantially parallel vertical walls in transverselyspaced relation, each of said walls having along the length thereof acorresponding plurality of upwardly open slots therein, thereby definingretaining members between adjacent slots in each wall, substantiallyflat connecting means in a plane generally perpendicular to those ofsaid walls and integnally connecting and transversely spacing said wallswith respect to each other, said slots having mouths converging topartially close oil the slot openings, whereby a single brush-stripbinder inserted in corresponding slots of both walls may be anchored toboth walls at transversely spaced locations and may thus be retainedagainst twisting dislocation with respect to said channel.

22. As an article of manufacture, a brush mat comprising a plurality oftransversely spaced longitudinally extending channel members, eachchannel member having two elongated substantially parallel verticalWalls in transversely spaced relation, each of said walls having alongthe length thereof a corresponding plurality of upwardly open slotstherein, thereby defining retaining members between adjacent slots ineach wall, substantially fiat connecting means in a plane generallyperpendicular to those of said walls and integrally connecting andtransversely spacing said walls with respect to each other, and a singlegenerally transversely extending brush strip with a binder received inslots of both said walls in each of a plurality of said channel members,each of said slots conforming to the contour of said binder andconverging at the mouth thereof to an extent to partially overlap andthus to retain said binder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS601,753 Kaiser Apr. 5, 1898 628,668 Knecht July 11, 1899 711,544 TeschOct. 21, 1902 780,298 McCarthy Jan. 17, 1905 893,198 Schachner July 14,1908 977,309 Horton Nov. 29, 1910 1,089,972 Schuman Apr. 10, 19142,041,755 Gordon May 26, 1936 2,199,252 Zehetner Apr. 30, 1940 2,228,754Cosby Jan. 14, 1941 2,580,961 Schmedinghofi' Jan. 1, 1952 2,605,000Tornarin July 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 68,959 Austria June 10, 1915

